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When New Belgium Brewing announced in 2012 that it would be opening a new east coast brewery in Asheville, it generated plenty of excitement – especially the promise of all the new jobs it would bring. But it was also a bold move for the company. They would be making a multi-million capital investment while also hiring some 150 new workers who would have the chance to become owners via the ESOP that owns 100% of New Belgium.

While large multinational corporations may have the kind of in-house resources to onboard and train that many new workers, it promised to be a thorny issue for New Belgium to handle on its own – especially as it approached the projected public opening date of the new brewery in April 2016. “We want everyone who goes through our hiring process to get something out of it – it might be for a job, it might just be an opportunity to learn about New Belgium and whether we are a good fit for each other,” says Annie Korenjak, the human resources manager for New Belgium’s Asheville location. “The reality is that to hire the way we want to hire, in a human and meaningful way, we needed some support.”

That’s where the state of North Carolina stepped to the plate.

One of the sometimes overlooked programs the state offers to companies creating new jobs is a customized training program that is funded by the state legislature and orchestrated through a partnership with the 58 different community colleges sprinkled throughout North Carolina. The program has been around since the 1960s as a way to help recruit companies to the state while also helping support the growth of companies already established here. It’s become a key tool for companies in North Carolina looking for ways to address the so-called “skills gap” that might stymie their attempts to hire new workers. “Fortunately North Carolina recognizes the importance of supporting businesses who are growing jobs in the state, and they partner with community college’s to help,” says Korenjak.

After New Belgium made their choice to build in Asheville, they connected with Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College – A-B Tech for short – where they met Kevin Kimrey, who is the director of economics and workforce development at the school. Kimrey’s role is to work with companies like New Belgium to create customized training programs to help screen, interview, onboard, and train workers with the kinds of skills the company needs.

Kimrey, who has also worked with other Asheville companies like GE Aviation and auto-parts maker Linamar, says that projects in the customized training program last for three years – though they can be extended for additional periods if that need exists.